US tourist board send brochure to aliens 40 lightyears away
The US state, famed for drawing tourists to its self-proclaimed 'horse capital of the world', is no longer limiting its tourism attractions to just us Earthlings.
In a bizarre quest to lure interstellar tourists, Kentucky's tourist board, VisitLEX, is beaming a visitor brochure towards the star TRAPPIST-1, a red dwarf star in the constellation Aquarius.
Located 40 light years away, the star's solar system may just be close enough to hear human broadcasts.
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The interstellar ad, disguised as infrared signals and binary code, reveals a pixelated image with the words 'Visit Lexington, Kentucky.'
So, if E.T. and friends are seeking the thrills of blues and bourbon, their first stop could be the southeastern US state.
VisitLEX President Mary Quinn Ramer stated: 'We believe Lexington is the best place on Earth. It’s the ideal location for extra terrestrial travellers to begin exploring our world.'
The cosmic marketing scheme, created by the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, was inspired by last year's congressional hearings on the subject of UFOs.
Robert Lodder, a chemistry professor at the University of Kentucky and a consultant on the project, commented: 'A lot of people think Kentucky is a flyover state, and it’s nice to give them the impression that maybe we’re not… and that Earth is not a flyover planet.'
Lodder consulted with experts in engineering, digital media, linguistics, philosophy and science fiction on how best to market Lexington to extra terrestrials.
The star was chosen because of its surrounding exoplanets that reside in what scientists call the 'habitable zone' - a sweet spot where liquid water could potentially gather on the surface of a rocky planet.
Lodded added: 'We might actually get an answer in somebody's lifetime if there's somebody there watching. There could be life there, so why not send a signal and see if they answer?'
When asked why Earth as a whole planet didn't get advertised, Lodder humorously answered, 'Well, you know, that makes a longer message and it’s harder.
'So if somebody wants me to send an ad for Lexington? Sure. I’ll send that.'
While this might seem like a joke out of this world, Earth received its own "alien message" just last year after scientists beamed a simulation into the cosmos, you know, just to see what would happen.
The SETI Institute produced the simulation of a radio wave from a Mars orbiter that would give hints as to how alien contact would be received.